ITAMAR EREZ & THE ADAMA ENSEMBLE: Desert SongThe music of Itamar Erez & The Adama Ensemble is exploring the boundaries of classical, contemporary jazz, and world music, composition and improvisation.
Itamar Erez is an Israeli born Canadian composer, pianist and guitarist with a breadth of expression from European classical to jazz, world music and beyond.
Itamar's music has been commissioned and performed by various soloists, ensembles and orchestras throughout Europe, the Middle East, United States and Canada including The BBC Singers (UK), The Israeli Chamber Orchestra, The Ra'anana Symphonette Orchestra (Israel), Partita Radicale (Germany) ALEA III (Boston) and the Standing Wave Ensemble (Canada).
His works are published in Australia (http://www.redhouse.com.au), Israel and Canada, and Erez is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre (http://www.musiccentre.ca)
Itamar also composes music for theatre, modern dance, and film. In 2002-2004 he has collaborated with director Rafi Spivak in the short films “The Man In Pajamas” and “Fragments of Proximity”. The film “The Man in Pajamas” was featured in several film festivals in Canada and Europe.
While in Germany, Itamar has participated as pianist in Steven Berkoff’s film ‘Decadence’, with famous film actress Joan Collins.
He has recently completed working on music soundtrack for the documentary ‘Raised To Be Heroes’ for the 'National Film Board of Canada'. The film has been accepted to the prestigious ‘Hot Docs’ festival in Toronto, the Vancouver International Film Festival 2006, and the Amnesty International Film Festival in Vancouver.
Itamar has been active in both the jazz and World Music idioms.
At 22 he made his debut performance at the Red Sea International Jazz Festival with his ‘Itamar Erez Trio’ performing his original compositions.
In 2003, Itamar formed The Adama Ensemble, to explore the commonality of Middle Eastern, World Music and Jazz.
The Canadian formation of ADAMA Ensemble includes reeds player Tony Nickels, bassist Laurence Mollerup, Stefan Cihelka on tabla, and Nick Apivor on vibraphone and marimba.
Performances included such venues as the ‘Capilano College Theatre’, The ‘Norman Rothstein Theatre’, ‘Vancouver Community College Theatre’ and more. ADAMA has released its debut CD ‘Desert Song’ in 2006.
Itamar has traveled to Spain a few times, where he studied with Gerardo Nunez, Manolo Sanlucar & Egberto Gismonti.
Since his return to Israel in 2007, Itamar has established the Israeli 'Adama Ensemble' with some of the best musicians around. Recent shows included such venues as the Givataim Theatre and the Confederation House in Jerusalem.
The current formation of the 'Adama Ensemble' includes:
Yoram Lachish on oboe & english horn, Yorai Oron on double bass, and Dani Benedikt on drums and percussion.
In 2007 Itamar has joined the group of Omar Faruk Tekbilek, the renowned sufi musician and is touring with him internationally. Recent shows were in Russia, Australia & Spain.
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